Method of making scissors



Jan. 5, 1965 F. E. AH LBIN 3,164,038

METHOD OF MAKING SCISSORS Filed Dec. 12, 1962 INVENTOR. Zd

HTTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,154,038 Patented Jan. 5, 1965 Thisinvention relates to a method of making scissors and, more particularly,to such a method wherein the basic operations are performed on a singleblank including both members of a pair of scissors.

In United States Patent No. 2,825,248, which issued March 4, 1958, tothe present inventor, there is disclosed an improved method for stampingscissors blanks from a strip of sheet metal stock. That disclosureteaches a method of positioning the blanks relative to one another insuch a fashion that a minimum of waste metal results. This is partiallydue to the novel arrangement of the shank and ring portions of eachscissors member. These are shaped so that the curvature of the shank ofone scissors member conforms to the curvature of the ring of an adjacentmember. The practice of the foregoing method has resulted in a greatincrease in efliciency in the scissors manufacturing art and hassimultaneously resulted in a great decrease in the waste produced whilestamping scissors.

In the prior art method as disclosed in the aforementioned patent, eachscissors blank consists of a scissors blade and its attached shank andring handle which, together, form a single scissors member. Afterstamping these blanks from the strip stock, a number of furtheroperations are required to complete the manufacture of a pair ofscissors. For example, the strip stock as it arrives in the plant isnormally covered with an oil film and may have considerable dirt andforeign matter adhering to its surface. Thus, the blanks must be cleanedso that later swaging or forging operations will not impair the surfacequality of the finished scissors and so that they may later be plated,or otherwise provided with a protective or decorative coating. Thecleaning step may include tumbling in a solvent solution. After swagingeach blank to the proper contour of a scissors member, the blank may beplated, then trimmed, the pivot holes punched, and the scissorsassembled. The plating step may be performed by either still plating'orbarrel plating.

The presence in a tumbling barrel of a large number of scissors members,each having a pointed end and a hollow ring end, results in many of themembers becoming interlocked by reason of the blade of one memberpiercing the ring of another. This creates serious drawbacks. In thefirst place, the members must be untangled prior to performing furtheroperations and this is a time-consuming manual task. Secondly, thisinterlocking often results in bending of the various members which makesthem unsuitable for further use. Thirdly, proper exposure of each memberto the cleaning and plating solutions is prevented, causing theseoperations to be less efiicient. It is also important to note that eachscissors member is separately handled throughout the manufacturingprocess and, also, that the members are unsymmetrical, making themdifficult to handle by automatic machinery.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide animproved method of making scissors. Other objects are to provide such amethod wherein the handling required in manufacturing a pair of scissorsis substantially reduced; wherein the number of manufacturing operationsis reduced; wherein tangling and bending of scissors members duringtumbling operations are eliminated; and wherein the scissors members arebetter suited for placement by automatic feeding, handling and shapingmechanisms.

The manner in which these objects are achieved will be more apparentfrom the following description, the appended claims and the figures ofthe attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sheet of metal strip stock showing the manner inwhich the scissors blanks are stamped in accordance with this method ofmaking scissors;

FIG. 2 is a view of a single blank as cut from the strip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the blank of FIG. 2 at a later step in themanufacturing process;

FIG. 4 is a view of the scissors members as formed in a still furtherstep in the manufacturing process;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a pair of scissors constructed in accordancewith this invention, and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the scissors of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a strip of sheet metal stock 10 as itappears after partial advancement through the blanking die. The overalllayout of the scissors blanks will be seen to be similar to thatillustrated in the abovementioned patent. However, it is important tonote that the blades of each pair of members, which will later becombined to form a single pair of scissors, are not separated from oneanother. The strip stock 10 is advanced through a progressive blankingdie which sequentially performs the operations illustrated in FIG. 1.First, substantially circular blanks are removed, leaving openings 12forming the inner edges of the finger loops. Second, the blanking diecuts out the blank including section 14. It will be noted that eachblank is produced as the result of two strokes of the die. Removal ofthe preceding blank has formed the right hand edge of the blank frompoint A to point B. Accordingly, the die needs only cut the remainder ofthe periphery along line A, A, B, B. With removal of this blank, onlythe dotted line need be cut to remove the following blank includingsection 14', etc. The scissors blanks produced each have a double bladesection 14, shank portions 16, 17 and finger loops 18, 20. Speed ofproduction is essentially doubled by this method of stamping and thelife of the blanking die is considerably extended. A complete blank isillustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the various elements are numbered inaccordance with the numerals given to the corresponding elements ofFIG. 1. The relatively simple blank appearing in FIG. 2 includes anumber of important features. For example, it Will be noted that thereis no single projecting portion of this blank which is capable ofentering the finger loops 18, 20 of any other similar blank.Accordingly, a blank of this type may be mixed or tumbled with anynumber of similar blanks without danger of entanglement, bending, orimproper exposure to plating or cleaning solutions. It is furtherimportant to note the symmetry of this blank. This symmetry is ofimportance in automated plants as it greatly simplifies the automaticplacement of these parts in machines performing subsequent operations.These advantages, as well as others, will become clear from thefollowing description taken together with the illustrations in FIGS. 3and 4. After producing the blank of FIG. 2, this and all other similarblanks must be cleaned, as by tumbling in a barrel of celaning solution.After proper cleaning, the blanks may be swaged or forged to anapproximation of its final shape. The symmetry of the blanks and theplacement of the opposite loops 18, 20 simplifies the automatic feedingof this blank to a swaging press, as by means of alignment pins orfingers inserted therein. The swaged article is illustrated in FIG. 3.It will be noted that the swaging die has formed from the original blanktwo separate scissors members each having the characteristic contours ofa scissor blade, together with its corresponding shank and ring.However, the two members are still intercontwo scissors members.

and is provided with a square hole 28.

to note that in the entire manufacturing process, until u nected' andare surrounded by a flashing 24 of waste material formed in the swagingprocess which will later be removed. After swaging, it is customary toplate the scissors with a decorative or protective coating. This may,for example, be applied by either barrel plating or still plating. Whenbarrel plating is employed, the problem of entanglement ischaracteristic of the prior art method of manufacturing scissors.However, with my improved method, the swaged blank of FIG. 3 will beseen to be completely incapable of entanglement with similar blanks, andwill thereby be assured of both better plating and an increase inoperations efficiency, due to the fact that the scissors members willnot be tangled. After the plating process, the swaged scissors blankmust be trimmed and holes must be punched to receive a connecting rivet.In the prior art method, it was very difficult to properly position theswaged scissors member beneath the trimming die. Although a ring existedat one end of the scissors member which might be employed forpositioning, the other end of the member was not so provided. Placementof the blade end was effected by means of the flashing 24 around thescissors blade. This lack of positive placement often resulted in thescissors member not being properly positioned beneath the trimming dieso that much waste occurred. It will be readily apparent, however, thatthe swaged member shown in FIG. 3 may be easily positioned beneath atrimming die because of the existence of the two opposite rings 18, 20providing for positive and'accurate placement. Furthermore, the trimmingstep is combined with another operation wherein a hole of the propershape is simultaneously pierced in each member. It will also be apparentthat the trimming step separates the two members. In FIG. 4, the blankof FIG. 3 is illustrated immediately after the trimming operation. Itwill be seen that there now exist A first member includes blade 14a,shank 16, and finger loop 18. This member is provided with a roundpierced hole 26. The other member includes a blade 14b, a shank 17, anda finger loop 20, It is important this last mentioned step, the twomembers for forming a single pair of scissors have been incorporated ina single blank. The importance of this will be understood when it isconsidered that in prior art methods these members were individuallyhandled through the corresponding steps of the process. Accordingly, thehandling time and labor have been cut substantially in half and, at thesame time, advances have been achieved in the reduction of waste andautomatic handling of the scissors. The final scissors is illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the .two. members have been joined together by arivet 30 in the usual fashion.

If the scissors areto be ground this may be accomplished after theseparating step illustrated in FIG. 4 and before the final assemblyillustrated in FIG. 5. After assembly, the scissors are normally fittedand tested and are then buffed to bring out the proper color andbrilliance of the finish.

The many advantages of the improved method of this invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art. It will also be apparent that anumber of variations and modifications may be made. in this inventionwithout 1 departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, theforegoing description is intended to be illustrative rather thanlimiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the followngclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. The steps in the method of making scissors comprising cutting aseries of blanks side by side from sheet metal of the desired thickness,the blanks each comprising a double blade portion having first andsecond back edges laterally spaced, a general-1y ring-shaped finger loopat each end thereof each having an outer convex edge and being connectedto one end of the double blade portion at a different one of said backedges by a curved shank bowed in a direction toward the other back edgewith a concave inner edge, the blanks being cut from the sheet metal inadjacent relationship on common lines, the inner concave edge of eachshank of each blank being cut on a common line and of the same shape asthe outer convex edge of a loop of the adjacent blank; shaping each ofsaid blanks to the configuration of a pair of scissors members, saiddouble blade portion including a first blade portion and a second bladeportion interconnected by a central web, each of said blade portionsterminating in one of said curved shanks; substantially simultaneouslyremoving the central web to separate said blank into a pair of scissorsmembers and piercing each of said scissors members to form a pivot holein the shank end of its blade portion; and pivotally interconnectingpairs of pierced members to form scissors.

2. The steps in the method of making scissors comprising cutting aseries of blanks side by side from sheet metal of the desired thickness,the blanks each comprising a double blade portion having first andsecond back edges laterally spaced, a generally ring-shaped finger loopat each end thereof each having an outer convex edge and being connectedto one end of the double blade portion at a diiferent one of said backedges by a curved shank bowed in a direction toward the other back edgewith a concave inner edge, the blanks being cut from the sheet metal inadjacent relationship on common lines, the inner concave edge of eachshank of each blank being cut on a common line and of the same shape asthe outer convex edge of a loop of the adjacent blank; tumbling aplurality of said blanks in a cleaning solution to remove surfaceimpurities therefrom; removing said blanks from said cleaning solution;shaping each of said blanks to the configuration of a pair of scissorsmembers, said double blade portion including a first blade portion and asecond blade portion interconnected by a central web, each of said bladeportions terminating in one of said curved shanks; plating the shapedblanks; substantially simultaneously removing the central Web toseparate said blank into a pair of scissors members and piercing each ofsaid scissors members to form a pivot hole in the shank end of its bladeportion; and pivotally interconnecting pairs of pierced members to formscissors.

Ern Dec. 4, 1951 Ahlbin Mar. 4, 1958

1. THE STEPS IN THE METHOD OF MAKING SCISSORS COMPRISING CUTTING ASERIES OF BLANKS SIDE BY SIDE FROM SHEET METAL OF THE DESIRED THICKNESS,THE BLANKS EACH COMPRISING A DOUBLE BLADE PORTION HAVING FIRST ANDSECOND BACK EDGES LATERALLY SPACED, A GENERALLY RING-SHAPED FINGER LOOPAT EACH END THEREOF EACH HAVING AN OUTER CONVEX EDGE AND BEING CONNECTEDTO ONE END OF THE DOUBLE BLADE PORTION AT A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID BACKEDGES BY A CURVED SHANK BOWED IN A DIRECTION TOWARD THE OTHER BACK EDGEWITH A CONCAVE INNER EDGE, THE BLANKS BEING CUT FROM THE SHEET METAL INADJACENT RELATIONSHIP ON COMMON LINES, THE INER CONCAVE EDGE OF SAIDSHANK OF EACH BLANK BEING CUT ON A COMMON LINE AND OF THE SAME SHAPE ATTHE OUTER CONVEX EDGE OF A LOOP OF THE ADJACENT BLANK; SHAPING EACH OFSAID BLANKS TO THE CONFIGURATION OF A PAIR OF SCISSORS MEMBERS, SAIDDOUBLE BLADE PORTION INCLUDING A FIRST BLADE PORTION AND A SECOND BLADEPORTION INCLUDING CONNECTED BY A CENTRAL WEB, EACH OF SAID BLADEPORTIONS TERMINATING IN ONE OF SAID CURVED WEB TO SEPARATE SAIDSIMULTANEOUSLY REMOVING THE CENTRAL WEB TO SEPARATE SAID BLANK INTO APAIR OF SCISSORS MEMBERS AND PIERCING EACH OF SAID SCISSORS MEMBERS TOFORM A PIVOT HOLE IN THE SHANK END OF ITS BLADE PORTION; AND PIVOTALLYINTERCONNECTING PAIRS OF PIERCED MEMBERS TO FORM SCISSORS.